Incorporating new developments in cleaning technology to improve the safety and cleanliness of stores will help reduce the risk of spreading diseases such as Listeria says Abhay DesaiIncorporating new developments in cleaning technology to improve the safety and cleanliness of stores will help reduce the risk of spreading diseases such as Listeria says Abhay Desai
Reducing the risk of spreading disease is always a top concern in the retail industry. As food moves from farm to fork, supermarket retailers and other key players have a crucial role in reducing risks to customers and employees.
As the public becomes intensely aware of emerging diseases and viruses, retailers must be prepared to address growing concerns regarding food-borne illnesses.
A growing risk for food retailers
In retail, healthcare and food-processing environments, there are certain pathogens, such as the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, that (if present) must be eradicated completely. Although cases of Listeriosis, the serious illness caused by Listeria, may not be as frequent as other food-borne illnesses, when someone does get ill from Listeria they have a high chance of dying from the illness.Â
In addition to the significant health risk posed by food-borne illnesses to both customers and staff, an outbreak of Listeria can also have severe financial implications for retailers. For example, an outbreak of Listeria can cost a store or a deli lakhs of rupees.
The supermarket needs to be closed for disinfection for two days; all food in the deli has to be discarded, equipment such as slicers and refrigerators have to be disposed, the deli drains need to be sealed. However, what is not as easily calculated is the untold damage done to a store’s reputation through closure and any resulting negative media exposure.
One of the most important characteristics of Listeria, which makes it such a food-safety concern, is its capacity to grow at refrigeration temperatures. While refrigeration is used to control the growth of most other food-borne pathogens, Listeria is capable of growth at 5 degrees Celsius. Additionally, food products or items that contain Listeria cells do not look, smell or taste any different than they normally do, making it very difficult to identify contaminated products.
Where Listeria thrives
Listeria is a ubiquitous bacterium, which means it can be found nearly anywhere. The ubiquitous nature of this organism can make it very difficult to keep out of a food retail environment. Difficult-to-clean and frequently missed nooks and crannies are harborage sites for Listeria. One of the less obvious places where Listeria has been found in food retail environments in recent years has been in store drains. In fact, about 30 % of all drains may have Listeria growing in them.
Although cleaning of store drainage systems is specially critical to prevent the spread of Listeria, they are often not held to the same high standards of cleaning associated with food preparation areas.
Though retailers have food safety programs in place to prevent the outbreak of food-borne illnesses, these cleaning and sanitation programs tend to focus on the obvious food-contact areas, such as food-display cases, slicers, walls, grinders, sinks, floors and countertops.
This is in part due to the perception that because food items or products do not come into direct contact with drains (unlike preparation surfaces or utensils) they will not be able to contaminate food.
So how does Listeria pathogens located in floor drains contaminate food? Listeria pathogens in floor drains can be carried on shoes and transferred onto food preparation areas or directly onto food items themselves when picking up a dropped object from the floor. If drains and trap systems are not maintained properly, water could backflow, which could result in odour problems and bacterial contamination. Additionally, pests like fruit flies or cockroaches, have the ability to spread Listeria to other areas of the store.
Training drain-cleaning practices themselves can also significantly assist in the spread of Listeria through the creation of potentially harmful airborne droplets. Traditional cleaning practices involve scrubbing drains with brushes or pads, which can spray droplets from inside the drain into the wider store environment.
These aerosols, which may contain Listeria, can deposit themselves on food-contact surfaces and eventually on food.
Protecting food, people and reputation and incorporating new developments in cleaning technology that are designed to improve the safety and cleanliness of stores will help retailers reduce the risk of spreading diseases such as Listeria.Â
Abhay Desai is director Hospitality and Healthcare, JohnsonDiversey India Pvt. Ltd.
